(NSI News Source Info) TORONTO, Canada - September 3, 2011: Libya's transitional leaders believe hundreds of their supporters have been gunned down in Colonel Gaddafi's home town of Sirte by desperate regime loyalists, even as they try to negotiate its surrender.

The town is Gaddafi's biggest remaining Libya stronghold and rebel commanders know his forces are dug in for a bloody battle.

For now opposition forces have held their positions to the east and west as they wait for tribal elders to negotiate with Gaddafi fighters.

But Shamsiddin Ben-Ali, a spokesman in the rebel city of Benghazi, said 800 people had been killed in the past three days.

"Many of the people of Sirte are on our side now and want to be part of the revolution," he said. "The people with guns though are still resisting."

The death toll raises a bloody conundrum for the country's new leaders: rushing in could spell a military disaster but waiting is costing a very high price in civilian casualties.

Rebel leaders know that Sirte's long association with Gaddafi – he was born just outside and went to primary school in the Mediterranean town – make it difficult to win over.

Many government departments were moved to Sirte during his 42-year reign and money was showered on its roads and architecture.

Gaddafi had a tented complex built at the seafront to entertain foreign dignitaries, as he transformed a quiet fishing village into Libya's capital in all but name.

Opposition fighters at the eastern front line, about 80 miles outside, are impatient to march on the key strategic target.

"We can be in Sirte within a day," said Ibrahim Ahmed, who had been a student before buying an AK-47 and hitching a ride to the battle.

Privately, commanders know that any battle would last a lot longer.

Instead they are working with the Firjan tribe within the city to try to convince the Gaddafa to renounce their tribemate.

At a meeting close to the front line on Thursday, rebel commanders besieging the city agreed to extend a Saturday deadline for negotiations by a week.

It is understood that tribal elders want guarantees that they will not loot or search private properties and will leave checkpoints to locals.

In the meantime, said Mr Ben-Ali, the RAF will continue to soften up Sirte's defences.

"We know that armoured columns that fought in Brega, under the command of Gaddafi's son Mutassim, and those that fought in Misurata pulled back to Sirte. So we know they have very strong defences."

And the longer the siege continues, the more he believes the city will look to surrender.

Much of the Sirte is already without electricity, cooking gas or petrol.

"The population know the way to end these conditions is to join the revolution," said Hasan Droy, Sirte representative on the National Transitional Council.

"The problem is that many people in the city don't have TV or radio and don't understand what has happened to the rest of the country."